Learning Golf’s Essential Elements
by Jim Howe
About the Book
There are many reasons why people play the game of golf. Some wish to play great while others hope only to become competent enough to not embarrass themselves. Yet regardless of their ability or intentions and time available most golfers seem to have the desire to experience that great golf shot or play a terrific round. Learning Golf's Essential Elements helps the golfer understand the process that it takes to learn to develop and increase physical ability, knowledge of the golf swing and game. It may be used by an individual, a group or as a class textbook.
This book provides a systematic way of learning and understanding the game beginning with the golf swing. Physical limitations, time constraints and unrealistic expectations are just a few of the reasons discussed for golfers having difficulty realizing their goals. Drills and exercises are outlined and practice routines are developed. Throughout the book are stories of the author's experiences as he has learned and taught the game over the years. Many of the stories are humorous but all have a purpose in helping the reader understand the struggles of learning the game.
Learning the golf swing, an essential element, is a major portion of the book. While the golf swing is important the game doesn't stop there. Putting, the short game, etiquette, rules and vocabulary are all included. Drills and routines are described for both putting and the short game. Etiquette may be the most important yet neglected component. No game can be played without rules and explanations of the most common rules are given. Necessary vocabulary is integrated throughout the book and is also a chapter itself.
Whatever the motive for playing the game the reader will benefit and enjoy Learning Golf's Essential Elements.
About the Author
Jim Howe began playing golf in 1961. Since then, the thousands of rounds, hundreds of tournaments, countless hours of practice, and just passion for the game have all given him a great background for teaching the game. He has continued tournament play throughout his career.
As important as playing has been for the past thirty-five years, teaching has been more of his primary focus, starting at Ridge Country Club in Chicago, then moving west to California in the late ’70s. It was at his first California stop, Newport Beach G.C., where he began using video during lessons. Around the same time he began teaching large classes at a local community college. The feedback from watching the video and from student comments, particularly the large groups, began shaping him into a teacher, not just someone who knew the golf swing.
In 1980 he took the position as golf coach at Cal State University–Fullerton, which also gave him the opportunity to teach classes as a member the physical education staff. This staff position is one that he still holds today. The experience of coaching Division One players and teaching college classes as well as returning to school to further his education helped him continue to develop his method, style, and format.
Attempting to follow the footsteps of the famous teachers Earnest Jones and Percy Boomer he taught indoors for several years. It was during this time that he developed a methodology that used a comparative analysis. This has become a very popular format in modern instruction.
At the present he can be found teaching classes at Cal State University–Fullerton. He also teaches private and group lessons at a public golf course in Brea, California.
Jim can be reached by e-mail at jhowe2@aol.com
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Consistent in the development of these highly skilled golfers is the fact that they progressed through stages. It would be very hard to imagine that any golf professional went from beginner to advanced without many, many hours of practice and hundreds of rounds of golf. They may have progressed in a shorter time frame than most people, but still, there had to be a progression of skill. Their skill then is the combination of physical ability, practice, and experience.
As I said, this skill may have taken less time to develop, but it still required an abundance of time. Of all the factors required to develop a high skill level, this generally is the one that adult golfers do not have. I can't emphasize this enough; in fact, understanding this may be the most important thing you can do to help yourself improve. Unless you have the same amount of time that it takes a highly skilled golfer to learn the game, you will not reach their skill level. Accept that and you will be better off than most people who challenge the game.
How does the average person learn a motor skill that takes even highly talented individuals years to develop? As I stated earlier, learning to play golf is a skill that takes more time than most people have. So the answer may be that the average person needs a method for learning that is different from that used by the highly talented players who perform on TV. Simple trial and error takes too much time. A person must learn how to interpret feedback and adjust their swings accordingly. Learning to interpret feedback is a skill in itself and also requires time to learn.
A method must be developed that is very specific and takes into consideration the amount of time that is available for practice. The average golfer must learn to analyze and use feedback properly. Earlier I wrote that Knowledge of Results and Knowledge of Performance are both critical to learn a motor skill. The person who does not have a great amount of time can learn the golf swing if that time is used wisely. Understanding and learning the underlying fundamentals of the golf swing along with understanding KR and KP is the best use of your time. Later in this book we will develop routines for you to do exactly that.
One of the more successful students that I worked with over the past years was very disciplined in his practice. Dave was just a beginner and not a very good one when he first began taking lessons. He acknowledged the fact that he did not have a lot of time to devote to wasted practice. In our lessons together we developed drills and routines that took his time into consideration. As he developed a consistent swing, he began working on his game on the golf course and eventually into tournament play through a club of which he was a member. In a few years his handicap had dropped to as low as 9. Dave now plays a very enjoyable and respectable game of golf.
There are only a few reasons that a person cannot learn to play a good game of golf. The key is the proper attitude toward your ability, toward your goal in relation to your time and toward a specific practice.
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